The current Hattori Foundation Senior Award winner, Fiona Sweeney, presents the second concert in the 2021/22 Hattori Foundation Early Evening Concert Series at the Foundation's home in Waterloo. The series has been running since 2008, and this year the series will again feature an exciting line-up of current award-winners. This year, for the first time, the concerts will be live-streamed to viewers via YouTube as well as live for audiences at 1901 Arts Club. In-person guests are invited to enjoy a pre-concert drink included in the ticket price, and then join the Trustees and performers in the Club's bar after each recital for complimentary refreshments.
The Hattori Foundation was established as an Educational Trust by the Hattori Family and granted charity status in 1992.
The aim of the Foundation in the field of music is to encourage and assist exceptionally talented young instrumental soloists or chamber ensembles who are British Nationals or resident in the UK and whose talent and achievements give promise of an international career.
Fiona Sweeney
Fiona is originally from Glasgow and studied at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Ruth Morley, where she was awarded the annual ABRSM Scholarship and won the Junior RCS Concerto Competition in 2016. Fiona was a scholarship holder for her undergraduate degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and was awarded a first-class honours degree, in addition to the Concert Recital Diploma for excellence in her final recital. She was also awarded The Principal’s Music Prize.
Fiona is currently a scholarship holder on the GSMD Orchestral Artistry postgraduate course, in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, studying with Gareth Davies, Christopher Green and Philippa Davies. During her time at the Guildhall, Fiona has won the Needlemaker’s Prize for Woodwind 2021, was a finalist in the Ivan Sutton Chamber Prize 2021, and was the winner of the St James Chamber Music Prize 2019. In addition, she is a current artist with the Hattori Foundation for Music and the Arts, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, The Craxton Memorial Trust, The Cross Trust, and a grateful recipient of the Ian Fleming Instrumental Award from Help Musicians UK. Fiona was highly commended in the British Flute Society Young Artist Class 2020.
Fiona has played principal flute with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the Norwegian National Youth Orchestra and the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra. She has also played with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra, the Dorset Opera Festival and Guildhall Opera productions. This coming winter, she will join the pit orchestra for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular Show.
Fiona has recorded a flute sonata written by Richard Bissill for his forthcoming CD, and was part of the stage orchestra at the Wireless Festival, performing with the grime/R&B legend Stormzy.
Fiona is a keen teacher and currently teaches at high schools throughout central London. She has led parent and toddler workshops as part of the Hackney Music Development Trust, and in 2019 was involved with the Guildhall Young Artists programme, in collaboration with Music Education Islington. She has been a tutor for the West of Scotland Schools Training Band, and has been involved with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Futures Project, in collaboration with Drake Music Scotland, the charity that creates music-making opportunities for children with special educational needs.